WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE, 54-34

WILLIMANTIC, CT - The Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team did not allow as many as 20 points in either half and rode that defense to its sixth straight win, a 54-34 Little East Conference decision over the University of Massachusetts Boston Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

Last year's regular-season conference champion, Eastern (9-3, 3-0 little east) scored the first five points of the game, and pushed the lead to double digits 11 minutes into play. A ten-point halftime lead never dipped below double figures in the second half. The Warriors forced 22 turnovers with ten steals in holding the Beacons (4-7, 0-3 little east) 14 points under its season average. The Beacons were 2-for-16 from three-point range, shooting just 22.2 percent from the floor in the second half.

Eastern freshman forward Tanisha Carter (East Hartford, CT) dominated play with a career-high 22 points - 16 coming in the second half on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor -- and a game-high eight rebounds as the Warriors remained undefeated in the conference with their sixth straight win overall. The Warriors and Western Connecticut are atop the conference lead with identical records.

Carter pulled into a share of the team scoring lead with her career-high point total with junior guard Jessica Moriarty (East Haven, CT), who had 12 points, four steals and two blocked shots. Carter and Moriarty combined to play 61 minutes without a turnover - the first game without a giveaway for either this season - as the Warriors commited a season-low nine turnovers.

Junior guard Brittany Whiteley (Windsor Locks, CT) had eight points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals with only two turnovers in 32 minutes for Eastern.

Freshman guard Kate Levy (Falmouth, MA) led UMass Boston with seven points to go with a rebound, a block and a steal, while junior forward Cammy Brown (Malden, MA) chipped in with six points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of action. Sophomore guard Jaci Goodwin (Melrose, MA) also contributed with six points and four boards.

Eastern visits Massachusetts Dartmouth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in a Little East Conference game, while the Beacons host Plymouth State University on the same night at 5:30 p.m. in Little East Conference play.

Material in this report courtesy of Eastern Connecticut State University Sports Information.